Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 1 - The Foundation (Andi Cumbo)

This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 4 sessions (April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

Description:

You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

Module 1: The Foundation (4 Weeks)
Focus: Before you publish, you must decide how to publish and how to protect your rights.

Weeks 1–2: Industry Pathways

• A deep dive into the pros and cons of Traditional vs. Independent publishing. We will analyze contracts, agents, and self-publishing platforms.
• Guest Spotlight: Nashae Jones (Traditional Publishing) & Connie Dowell(Self-Publishing).

Weeks 3–4: Business Infrastructure

• Treating your writing as a business. Topics include LLC formation, copyright registration, separating finances, and setting up the legal framework for your author career.

About the Instructor:

Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.